Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/456

424] If the refuse of the short hair of hides be scattered on arable land, and left there to putrify, it proves one of the most fertilizing and durable manures.

, in , is commonly called the coat; and, with respect to hordes, merits particular consideration. The hair growing on the fetlock, serves as a defence to the prominent part of it, when the animal is travelling on rough, stony roads, or in frosty weather. If the hair on the neck and more exposed parts be close and smooth, it may be concluded that the horse is in health.

To render the hair of this useful animal fine and glossy, it is necessary that he be kept warm at heart, as the least internal cold will render the hair rough; he should also be frequently sweated, in order to loosen the dust and filth, which render his coat foul; and while he is hot, all the white foam, sweat, &c. that rises on his skin, ought to be carefully scraped off. The smoothness of a horse's hair, it is said, may also be considerably promoted, by rubbing his own blood over him for two or three days after it has been drawn; he is then to be well curried and dressed, in consequence of which, his coat will become as soft and glossy as if it had been covered with a fine varnish.

The hair of a horse's mane and tail is apt to fall off, especially if they have been suddenly over-heated, so as to engender, what is called in the language of the stable, the dry-mange. A similar effect will follow, after he has been surfeited, so that the foul humours are repelled into those extremities of the tody. To remedy such disgusting appearance, the horse's mane, &c. should be anointed with black soap, and the animal washed with a strong ley prepared of wood-ashes. If, nevertheless, a canker arise on the animal's tail, it will be requisite to apply diluted oil of vitriol, which will corrode, and prevent it from making farther progress.

Horse-hair likewise forms a considerable article of trade; it pays on importation a duty of about 11d. per lb. and is partly employed for weaving the covers of the seats of chairs, sofas, &c. but principally for the stuffing of bolsters and mattresses. For the last mentioned purposes, the hair is previously baked, and, in that state, forms one of the most elastic couches, which is incomparably superior to the softest, but enervating, feather-beds.  HAIR-GRASS, or Aira, L. a genus of perennial plants, comprising 24 species; of which 14 are indigenous; and of these the following deserve notice:

1. The cespitosa, or Turfy Hair-grass, which grows in moist meadows and woods; flowers from June to August. This plant is frequently found in tufts, and occasions irregularities in the surface of meadows. It produces an abundant quantity of leaves; and being the roughest and coarestcoarsest [sic] of all the grasses in pasture and meadow-grounds, cattle seldom touch them, unless impelled by hunger. It would, therefore, amply repay the trouble of eradicating it, and substituting better grasses: for this purpose, the land should be first drained, and then the tufts of this noxious weed pared up and burnt. Its ashes are said to afford an  cellent